Article Text
17" Mr. William A. Sweet has been pre. senting the bills of the Traders Bank in this city, at their counter, for several days past and demanding the specie for them, which has been promptly paid by the Bank. The reason for this course on the part of Mr. Sweet, is that Mr. Mumford, the Cashier of the Bank, recently complained of Mr. Sweet for an alleged violation of the Maine Law ; and he adopts this means with the hope of compelling the Directors of the Bank to dismiss Mr. Mumford. Now we are entirely opposed to Mr. Mumford in regard to the Maine Law, and we think that he has been unwise if bringing himself in direct conflict with alleged violators of the Law, as in Mr. Sweet's case, inasmuch as he is an officer in a public institution; but that is an affair of sown, and he has a right to pursue such a course if he thinks proper. These things are mere matters of opinion. Running the Bank does not affect Mr. Mumford personally, and however much the Directors may disapprove of Mr. Mumford's course, if they do, in making himself a complainant under the Maine Law, a means like the one now resorted to will not be likely to influence the Directors at all against him; on the contrary, it is but natiral to conclude that they will not be dietated by any one, in regard to retaining or dismissing one of their officers,-because, if they were influenced in a case like this, they might be called upon to yield to a similar hue and cry or dictation for some other cause. Mr. Mumford is an honestman. in his business transactions, and an efficient, accommodating and valuable Cashier. We have no sympathy with his isms, and his course in favor of the Maine Law; we think him at together wrong, and still he is fully entitled to his opinions on this, as on all other questions of the day; we think it would be more prudent and politic for him, in consequence of his position in the business community, not to make himself a complainant in these liquor cases, when there are other Maine Law men whocan do it, just as well, and whoare not in a situation to be thrust at and yet not injured. The Traders Bank can and w redeem all its bills, whenever they are presented ; there is not a safer or sounder Bank in the United States than the Traders, or one that is paying flairer dividends,-an the only cause for this small run is as we have stated. If Mr. Sweet or any other man does not like Mr. Mumford's course, let them settle their differences with him personally, and not attempt to be revenged in this manner, because in this case nothing is gained,--Mr. Mumford is not affected personally, he will not be discharged, and the Bank is sound to the core and will redeem all its bills as presented,-and consequently it cannot be injured, except in a very small way by slightly curtailing its circulation for a short time.
